In Reply to: THE SECRET LIFE OF ARTHUR RANSOME - BBC2 posted by Jock on September 18, 2005 at 23:45:28:
I saw the programme and thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't think there was anything terribly new, other than an interview with Evgenia's niece in Russia, but I suspect the story of AR's time in that country will have come as a surprise to those who know him only for the S&A series. There was also mention of the fairly recent allegation that Evgenia brought out various diamonds to fund the Bolshevik cause.
The programme made much of the difficulties which AR later played down of getting into Russia and then out again with his future wife. I thought the dramatisations were reasonable and and the actor looked suitably close to the early pictures of Ransome. AA Gill (in the Sunday Times) belittled these parts and also spent most of his review slagging off Rhys Jones.
GRJ concluded that AR was not a spy but just acted as a go between. I know that some TARS say that he was - he had an MI6 reference and was helped by them - I guess it depends upon what definition you apply?